chapter 33

  Ocha was leading the way unto frontiers Ken had never seen, there were environs in the facility they hadn't explored. And Ocha says Proctor1 came through this way. They had also tried to tail the other proctors. Proctor2,Proctor3,Proctor4,Proctor5,they use different pathways but they also know this particular route. It isn't an exit. It's a room and it's where our wards are, the other pathways seem to be a dorm for the proctors themselves. The way that was their destination became a narrow hallway ending at one door. "that's it" Ocha spoke,"behind that door is the resort where our wards are staying" "this hallway looks suspicious straightforward, are there any traps?" Ken inquired. "There's no traps, we've been through this. It seems it can only be opened from inside. Our wards are actually free to move around, I wonder if they can observe us somehow when we're in the hall writing exams" Ken tries to relax himself again then says, "I guess I'll find out everything I need to know when I ask Bob, you're waiting here?"

"yes, just don't take too long"

Ken stride a foot,then another and another nearing the door inside the deep hallway. He got close and it was all quiet all the time he was nearer, then he knocked. The sound, all that texture, it's a mix of wood and metal, He knocked again. Someone startled him with a voice, "hello, who's there?" there was a see through rectangle on the door, Ken hid his face somehow with his hand and said, "it's Reuben,i need to talk to Bob" Ken had modulated his voice. The other voice replied, "oh really? That's odd,you're never here at this time, what did you miss or lose?"

"I already told you, Bob, I want to speak with Bob, deliberately just Bob"

"alright I'll go get that wild man" the voice disappeared, and Ken is a little bothered by the casualness of things going, but Bob is coming, and he'd know his uncle, also the other voice just now wasn't that of a Proctor but he can't be sure. He had only memorized the voices of Dogma Damien and Reuben. Those two were the ones who spoke the most to be honest. The door makes a noise, a crackle then a bump, it was Bob, "hey, Reuben, you're looking me?" Ken waited and analyzed if it were really Bob's voice before answering, "Bob, it's me Kenneth, I have temporarily sneaked out of the facility"

"what?" Bob looked probably, "are you in trouble? Isn't this outside the norm?"

"Probably, but I'm not in trouble, this is a stealth mission. I just found out you guys were here and came to visit, don't panic, I've already written today's exams, we're on break. What's up over here?"

"you are one daring nephew. Nothing's up here, it's a paradise resort, your father should have come, he's missing"

"I thought so, do you have any connection to the outside world? I'd like to take notes of certain events about the exams in case I lose my memory by misfortune"

"we don't, the TV is just for observing you guys during the exams. No need to worry, your game today was abstract and awesome. You're becoming a god"

"oh, well, I found out we were under hypnosis, did you know?" 

"the other wards don't, neither did your father, I know because I'm a black op. Did you recover your memories?"

"I did, shocked myself into remembering, that's how I know who Reuben is. Uncle Bob, is there any new kind of information I should know?"

"nope, I wish, we're not given much on our side, I just wait for you guys to finish your exams. Do you want me to do something for you?"

"I'm not sure, I have to leave now. You guys on the other hand should have more freedom. Have you ever been to my facility?"

"yes, we do come there when you're in the hall sometimes. Just for a walk. It's why you all have to wait in limbo when one person finishes exams till everyone finishes exams"

"I thought so...  I'm gonna win this if I can, everyone is trying to cheat. I just want you to remember to help me get my memories back if I lose and my memories was zapped... I'm going, bye" Ken left there impatiently, then ran back to see Ocha who is being studious, "well?" he anticipated from Ken. "yeah, it was our wards, let's go first" Ocha and Ken hied away from there back into familiar territory, scared through out of running into any Proctor but they successfully returned without getting caught. Proctor1 was busy doing something else and they were able to make it back to their dorm where others were. Ken dived on his bed, Ebu joined him. Vlitri and Sara were there. "you guys are back, well?" Vlitri anticipated. "yeah, I spoke to my uncle, our wards are there"

"I knew it, how did you apply the password?"

"I just it's Reuben, and they knew. The proctors must be super friendly with them, I found out other things, they are free enough to come over here anytime they want but only when we're in the hall, we could use them, or we could use my uncle"

"so, our wards knew about our hypnosis?"

"Yes,they all did" Ken lied not wanting to bring attention to his uncle. "can any one of your wards be as acceptable as my uncle?"

"my mother would freak out if I showed up there" Sara thought. "mine's not" "especially mine" Vlitri reiterated. "I think Bummy's dad is pretty fun and acceptable" Ebu mentioned, "but he's not among us, this gang yet"

"I don't want to be too dependent on Bob but we'll use my uncle when needed. For now we should let me sleep then we talk about our next move later"

"we did think through our next move while you were gone, we're going to investigate the other students and find out about their plans, I don't want anybody to surprise me the way i surprised you"

That's a fair precaution,Ken thought but Vlitri still seems all the more dubious, as if he were working with the proctors, finding out the secrets of every student looks like a thing the proctors would want. Anyone would work for the proctors if they were promised godhood. Ken doesn't have the energy to suspect anymore and just shrugs before settling better on his bed. "we'll discuss that in the evening, let's not give Proctor1 anymore reasons to observe this new collaboration of ourselves. Goodnight everyone"